Water Births can be Unsafe for Infants

A new report says that water birth may be beneficial for the mother but it is not so for the newborn and in fact it can be risky for the infant.

Water Births can be Unsafe for Infants

The researchers said that water helps mothers in relaxing in the first stages of labour, but in the second stage, it does not have any benefit and sometimes it can even turn out to be risky for the baby.

They said that both mother and baby can contract infection during water delivery. There can be other problems for the baby such as difficulty in body temperature regulation. At times, there can be umbilical cord ruptures, haemorrhage and shock.

In some cases, the infant can even drown and swallow infected water or the infected water can get into their lungs.

The research was conducted by the American Academy of Paediatrics Committee on Foetus and Newborn and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Committee on Obstetric Practice.

In the wake of serious risks and lack of known benefits, "the practice of immersion in the second stage of labour (underwater delivery) should be considered an experimental procedure," that should only be performed if the mother is part of a clinical trial, the report stated.

In recent years, giving birth under water had gained popularity with many celebrities opting for water births. The report was published in journal Paediatrics.

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